Clothes washer structure



Se t. 22, 1970 E. G. LIPSKI CLOTHES WASHER STRUCTURE F'IGJ.

Filed Dec. 18, 1967 V lNV ENTOR Edwo rd G. Lipski W ,AGENT 3,529,449 CLOTHES WASHER STRUCTURE Edward G. Lipski, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 691,418 Int. Cl. D06f 13/02 US. Cl. 68134 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Agitator structure for a clothes washing machine. The structure has a plurality of vanes attached to a hollow post portion and detached from the skirt thereof such that they readily flex at the line of attachment to the post portion. A plurality of pin members slidable in slots in the skirt have grooves provided therein for receiving the lower edges of the vanes at different points therealong and thereby act as variable stops for changing the flexibility of the vanes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to clothes washing machines and, more particularly, to agitator structure for use therewith.

It is well known that the domestic clothes washer must be capable of handling large or small loads of sturdy or delicate fabrics which may be lightly or heavily soiled.

Since the vigorous mechanical action required for heavily soiled clothes, for example, work clothes or the like, is likely to damage delicate fabrics, it is necessary to provide washing machines operating with different kinds of action.

Heretofore, it has been the practice of the industry to provide variable speed motors to attain the variety of actions deemed necessary. This solution is undesirable since it substantially increases the cost of an already expensive part of the machine. Furthermore, the lower motor speed reduces the pumping rate which is objectionable.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved clothes washing agitator structure.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved washing machine agitator structure which can handle various types of fabrics including mens work clothes and womens lingerie.

Another object of this invention is to provide laundry agitator structure having vanes, the flexibility of which may be adjusted to vary the type of washing action effected thereby.

SUMMARY Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished in the present invention by providing, in an upright type of clothes washing machine, an agitator structure having a central post portion. A plurality of vanes are provided, a portion of each being attached to the post portion and a portion of each being disposed adjacent the skirt and detached therefrom. Movable blocking or restraining members are carried by the skirt and serve to restrain movement of the vane portions adjacent the skirt at various points therealong. The blocking members are actuated simultaneously by a collar connected thereto by means of flexible connections disposed within the agitator structure. The collar is disposed about the post portion adjacent the top thereof to facilitate actuation thereof by the user. Since the collar moves relative to the post portion, the latter may have a scale marked thereon to guide the operator in the positioning of the co lar.

United States Patent ice 'Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diametric vertical section of a laundry agitator embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally a laundry machine agitator structure, made from a suitable plastic material, for example, polypropylene. The structure 10 comprises a central post portion 11 and an integral skirt portion 12. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending vanes 13, only two being shown, comprise inner segments 14 which are secured to the post portion 11 and paddle segments 16 which overlie the skirt portion 12 and are detached therefrom.

The top end of the post portion 11 is interiorly fluted as indicated at 17 for mating with a splined agitator shaft 18 partially shown in FIG. 1.

In accordance with the present invention, the paddle segments 16 are highly flexible about the line of attachment of the inner segment 14 with the post 11. A pin member 19 is slidably mounted in a slot 21 provided in the skirt portion 12, one pin being provided for each of the vanes 13. The pin member 19 'has a slot 22 (see FIG. 2) for receiving the lower edge 23 of the paddle portion 16 and serves to restrain movement of the paddle portion to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the position thereof in the slot 21. It will be understood that the closer the pin member 19 is to the extremity of the paddle portion 16, the greater the restraint will be. In other words the paddle portion will exhibit the least amount of flexibility and, will, accordingly, be suitable for washing heavy work clothes. On the other hand when the pin member is furthest away from the extremity of the paddle portion 16, the paddle portion will exhibit a high degree of flexibility and will, therefore, be suitable for washing delicate fabrics.

In order to adjust the positions of the pin members 19 to vary the flexibility of the paddle portions 16, a collar 24 is provided which is slidably carried on the post portion 11 adjacent the top end thereof. A plurality of projections 26 carried by the inner circumference of the collar 24 are received in slots 27 provided in the post portion 11 and are connected to the pin members 19 by flexible cables 28 which are positioned internally of the agitator structure 10.

An indicia bearing plate 29 carried by the post portion 11 in a position underlying the path of travel of the collar 24 is provided with indicia not shown which cooperates with the upper edge of the annular collar 24 to provide indexing for a particular degree of flexibility. The indicia may represent types of clothes to be washed, for example, lingerie.

Since numerous changes may be made in the described apparatus and dilferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. Laundry machine agitator structure comprising: a central post portion, a plurality of unitary vanes spaced about the circumference of said central post portion, a skirt portion attached to said post portion at its lower end, each of said vanes comprising an inner segment attached to said post portion and a paddle segment overlying 7 v and spaced from said skirt portion and readily flexible about the line of attachment of said inner segment, means cooperating with said .paddle segment at a plurality of positions therealong to control flexing movement thereof to a greater or lesser extent, and means for setting the position of said control means to vary the amount of flexure of said paddle segment in accordance with the type of Washing action desired.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said paddle portion is detached from said skirt portion.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises a pin member slidably mounted in said skirt portion subadjacent said paddle segment and having a slot therein for receiving the lower edge of said paddle segment.

4. Structure as specified in claim 3, wherein said position setting means comprises a collar member slidably mounted on said post portion adjacent the top end thereof, said collar member having projections on its inner circumference which are carried in slots in said post portion, and said pin members and said projections are interconnected by elongated flexible connections disposed internally of said agitator structure.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, including indexing means for facilitating positioning of said collar member.

6. Structure as specified in claim 5, wherein said paddle segments are substantially coextensive with said skirt portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,381,504 5/1968 Smith 68134 XR 3,388,570 6/1968 Cobb et a1. 68134 3,399,552 9/1968 Salisbury et al. 68-134 3,401,540 9/1968 Platt et al. 68134 ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 134187 

